Big PROBLEM With Construction Job

davinci

i am going to sub out a job for installing a sliding glass door. we are removing a steam radiatior and casement window and installing a sliding door. problem is,the outside is all brick so we are obviously going to have to cut. We quoted the Home owner a much lower price when we were at the house. originally we were going to just replace the casement window and they said they may just want a sliding glass door put there instead but did'nt seem that serious . about a week later they called and said they actually did want the slider and i quoted them a price of 2k for JUST LABOR ssuming it was a wood exterior or siding. However,i siad before i gave them a contract i did need to actually see the outside and to my dismay,it was solid brick. i now have to charge 4k for just labor opposed to 2k because of the excessive labor involved in cutting the brick. what is the best way to approach the HO about this? keep in mind,i never gave them a contract yet but i did quote it verbally. also,i feel 4k FOR JUST LABOR,CUTTING THE BRICK,FRAMING FOR A 5 FOOT SLIDING DOOR IS AVERAGE.

mahlere

if you tried that with me, you'd never get paid...you had the opportunity to go look at the job, you screwed the pooch...it's not the customers fault...(too bad they don't have a font called "dumbass")

Tom R

First of all, - - I can't understand why you wouldn't look at it while you were right there.

Second of all, - - bein's you didn't look, - - why didn't you just ask them over the phone what was on the outside??

Third of all, - - $2,000 to cut out the brick??

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neolitic

I must be missing something?
You looked at the window,
(which I assume has transparent glass in it)
and you didn't see BRICK around it?
Were they serving cocktails?

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Tom R

And on that note, - - what was the wife wearing?? . . .

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Jason Whipple

Davinci,

Just call someone who can handle it before you get all freaked out. It's brick, not rocket science. Obviously, you in way over you head from your reaction.

Why would you bid a job you didn't look at anyway?

Why wouldn't you notice what was on the outside of a prospective customers house when looking at changing a window?

Give me a break!!!!

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TimelessQuality

I'll save ya some money... I'll cut the brick for $1995

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mahlere

welp...y'all scared him away...i guess he didn't get the response he was anticipating...

neolitic

Whoa there.
Maybe he didn't notice
it's not veneer, and it's
three stories of solid brick!
Load bearing.

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davinci

you are obviously missing the point. i went to look at windows and am replacing 12 of them. as i was sizing the casement she asked to get a price on a sliding door in case she changed her mind. she wanted a window but just wanted to know how much a door would cost.she was not serious at the time so i continued with the other windows. when i gave her a quote she then asked how much it would cost to actually put in the sliding door and i gave her a price and she then said she wanted it. I THEN SAID OK BUT FIRST I NEED TO COME OVER AND LOOK AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE BEFORE I GIVE AN ACTUAL CONTRACT. thats what i did,i just feel bad that the price will be so much more for the brick. you guys actually think 4k for that kind of labor is high? cutting the brick,and then removing the casement,radiator and installing,framing out a door????

Floordude

Retract your quote and decline the work!! When they ask why, just tell them you feel bad you seriously underbid the door, and instead of feeling worse asking for more money because it is brick and I though it was wood framed, I would feel better just retracting the quote all together, so you don't feel I'm pulling a fast one, when it was my mistake quoting you a ball park price without actually looking at it.

Leave it in their hands to ask you, well what would it cost, additionally.

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neolitic

Nice save!
You play short stop too?

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davinci

i agree,thats the way i was leaning. do you guys think that 4k is too high a price?

neolitic

Don't know where you are,
what the heating system is like,
1 or 2 story house,
what kind of floors,
haven't seen the job,
don't know your expenses.....
Sure that's just right!

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wallmaxx

Floordude

May I use that for the next time I short bid....awesome save.

BreyerConstruct

Ditto, thanks for the idea!

~Matt

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davinci

its a one story house . its a steam radiator system.

Chris Johnson

I don't know about the radiator, but to cut the brick by itself is good for 20 mins, another 20 to open the area up and I'll let you figure out loading and hauling the garbage away...if it's 2k for cutting brick, it's a touch high, I couldn't even charge that if that's all you had me show up and do.

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Teetorbilt

I'd need to know how the house was built before I started enlarging openings. Most of the time it's not as easy as it seems.

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davinci

i gave her a price of 2k to cut the opening,remove the casement window and radiator,cap the radiator and install a sliding door.that was actually a low price. i figured 4k with cutting the brick would be about average for that whole job.